Overview
Church Development 2012
David Schoen
Changing Lives
UCC Bold, Inspirational Goals
(BIGs)
Church Development & BIGs
Church Development, both New Church
Planting and Church Renewal are
connected to all the BIGs
 Church and Leadership Development
are especially involved in #2, 3, & 4
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2. There is a welcoming UCC community of faith that is accessible to all — no
matter who they are or where they are on life’s journey.
3. Every UCC member is well-equipped to be growing in faith, be theologically
conversant, and be active in the global mission of the church.
4. The UCC has a wealth of prepared, excellent leaders that reflect the diversity
of God’s beloved community.
Looking Back to 2005

God is Still Speaking
Initiative has shown us
that the field is ready.
There has been a great
response of people
looking for a church like the United Church of Christ.

The Stillspeaking Initiative and General Synod
generated enthusiasm for new church planting and for
existing congregations to join the UCC in witness to
God’s extravagant welcome.
How Can the UCC Respond to this Kairos
Moment for New Church Development?

Our response to this Kairos moment in
the United Church of Christ calls for a
focused cooperative effort between
congregations, associations,
conferences, organizations, national
ministries, and seminaries to increase
our capacity for planting and
welcoming new congregations.
Now is the Time! – 2005
Consultation, Suggestions, Goals
Nurture a church culture that embraces
and engages in New Church
Development
 Create systems that recognize, recruit,
assess, train and coach new church
planters.
 Encourage and empower
Congregational Multiplication.
 Prepare for increased outreach and
welcome of Affiliating Congregations.

Now is the Time! Outcomes

New Church Planter Assessment,Training & Coaching

New Church Planter Assessment
Gallup Assessment – 306 interviewees
New and Renewing Church Training 660 participants
 New Church Leadership Institute 2007
Center for Progressive Renewal 2010
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To renew Progressive Christianity by training new
entrepreneurial leaders, supporting the birth of new
liberal/progressive congregations, and by renewing
and strengthening existing progressive churches
Center for Progressive
Renewal

New Church Leadership Training
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National Church Leadership Institute
Online Courses - 260 participants
Weekly Webinars
Events in 30 Conferences
New Church Planter Certification
New Church Planter Coaching

Individual Coaching and Coach Share
 110
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participants
Conference Coaching Programs
Church Multiplication

Growth in Churches Birthing Churches
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Iglesia Hispana de la Communidad UCC, Jamaica Plains MA
Mayflower UCC, Naples FL
Trinity UCC, Chicago IL - 3
Cathedral of Hope UCC, Dallas TX – 3
City of Refuge UCC, San Francisco CA - Fellowship
United Church of Chapel Hill, NC - Hispanic
Judson Memorial, NY, NY - Korean
Freidens Peace UCC, Geronimo TX
First Congregational, Huntington WV
Harold O. Davis UCC, Philadelphia PA
Claremont UCC, CA - New generation
Riverside UCC, NY, NY – Korean
Samoan Congregations Congregations, Long Beach CA
Church Multiplication

CPR is working with 4 Conferences to
create Multiplication Networks In their
settings:
Minnesota Conference
 Southeast Conference
 Central Atlantic Conference
 Southwest Conference
Wrote a Churches Birthing Churches Manual
to use as a resource by the churches starting
this process.
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Big, Huge, Audacious Goal
2005

If we wish to see the extravagant welcome
of Jesus and the still speaking witness of the
United Church of Christ continue and grow
we will work to increase new church
development.

Denominations that are growing are starting
and welcoming 2% - 3 % of total
congregations each year.

The UCC could grow to 3% in 15 years
A 15 Year Challenge to Grow
Year
Total
Congregatio
ns
2006
5,750
1.50%
0.5%
29
26
86
-60
2007
5,690
1.50%
0.5%
28
26
85
-60
2008
5,630
1.20%
0.5%
28
25
68
-42
2009
5,588
1.00%
1.0%
56
50
56
-6
2010
5,582
0.75%
1.0%
56
50
42
8
2011
5,590
0.75%
1.0%
56
50
42
8
2012
5,599
0.75%
1.5%
84
76
42
34
2013
5,632
0.75%
1.5%
84
76
42
34
2014
5,666
0.75%
2.0%
113
102
42
59
2015
5,726
0.75%
2.0%
115
103
43
60
2016
5,786
0.75%
2.0%
116
104
43
61
2017
5,847
0.75%
2.5%
146
132
44
88
2018
5,934
0.75%
2.5%
148
134
45
89
2019
6,023
0.75%
3.0%
181
163
45
117
2020
6,141
0.75%
3.0%
184
166
46
120
2021
6,260
0.75%
3.0%
188
169
47
122
Total New Congregations
Percent
Loss
es
Percent
Incre
ase
New
Congregatio
ns Started
1612
Successful New
Congregatio
ns (*)
Losses
Net New
Congregatio
ns
633
How Are We Doing?
Now is the Time Goal of
250 New Churches from 2006 – 2011
 174 New Congregations from
2006- 2011 were celebrated at GS
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21 now gone or closed (12%)
 17

closed
4 left process of affiliating
153 active new churches
 26 Conferences with new churches

New Congregations
2006 - 2011

What were the 174 new congregations?
83 Affiliating congregation
 73 New Church Plants
 18 Multiplications
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(48%)
(42%)
(10%)
60 congregation ONA spirited (34%)
New Churches in 26
Conferences

These Six Conferences
50% of New Congregations
 24 Southern California Nevada
 15 Northern California Nevada
 14 Central Atlantic
 12 Hawaii
 11 Ohio
 11 Southeast
New Churches and
Conferences
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Add these Eleven Conferences
89% of New Churches in 17 Conferences
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8
8
8
7
6
6
6
6
5
4
4
Massachusetts
Southwest Conference
New York
South Central 5 Indiana Kentucky
Kansas Oklahoma
Florida
Missouri Midsouth
Southern
Illinois
Rocky Mountain
Pennsylvania Southeast
New Churches and
Conferences
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9 Conferences with 1 or 2 new churches
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
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Penn Central
Wisconsin
Iowa (one with South Dakota)
Maine
Michigan
Montana Northern Wyoming
Penn Northeast
Connecticut
12 Conferences no new churches (32%)
Conferences with designated
church development staff

14 Conferences have designated
church development staff
(37% of Conferences)
MA, NY, CT,
 PSE, PC, FL,
 MI, OH, IL, WI, MOMS,
 MN, SCNC, NCNC (?)
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New Churches in UCC reflect
new diversity and new
populations our nation
In 1957 ……
new churches in the
UCC were 92% EuroAmerican
100%
90%
80%
MultiEthnic
Native
Amer.
Hispanic
70%
In 1997…...
60%
50%
66% of new churches
are congregations
reflecting and reaching
diversity of American
population
40%
30%
Asian-PI
20%
African
10%
Euro
0%
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Decade
Sixth
New Churches reflect USA
diversity and new populations

From 2006 – 2011

Hispanic
M/M
African Am
Asian Am
Euro Am
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12%
1%
11%
30%
47%
New and Renewing Church
LCM Funding

100 congregations and 3 conferences were
funded by LCM from 2006 – 2011
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New and Renewing congregations
Conferences Funded
Grand total
$3,673,999.00
600,000.00
$4,273,999.00
Breakdown of the 100 congregations is as follows:
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70
29
32
68
New Churches
Renewing Churches
Churches (Euro-American)
Churches (Hispanic, African American, M/M,
Asian American, Pacific Islander)
Funding for New Congregations

LCM New and Renewing Funds
$500,000 each year in LCM budget
 New and Renewing Churches Endowment
 OCWM/STC
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Make A Difference endowment
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$18,000 a year
Conferences Funds
 Strengthen the Church
Special Mission Offering

New Church Benefit Support
New Church Benefit Support Program is
offered by the UCC Assistance Board
thru CVD/LCM.
 Provides funding for up to three years
for Benefit programs of Pension Board

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27 Congregations supported with
$363,574 from 2009 - 2012
How are We Doing?
Do the UCC Math
Churches Gained
2007
2008
2009
18
16
13
15
20
82
Merger
4
4
3
3
4
18
Sched 1/ 2 or reinstated with standing
3
1
2
2
25
21
18
20
Planted & affiliated
Total
2010
total
2006
8
24
108
0
New Proposed congs w/o standing
10
15
19
10
3
57
Closed
19
29
30
21
32
131
Merger
8
6
4
7
4
29
Dropped
2
2
1
0
14
19
Withdrew
111
*125
40
25
34
210
Total
140
162
75
53
84
514
Closed proposed congs w/o standing
3
**7
7
3
7
27
Sched 1/2 dropped
3
17
3
3
7
33
-115
-141
-57
-33
-60
-406
Churches Gone
Net Change
* Puerto Rico Conference withdraw, including their 66 churches
How are we doing?
Do the math

174 new congregations represents a
growth of 3.3% from 2006 – 2010
514 congregations closed or withdrew
represents a decline of 9.9% in the
same time
 5,194 UCC congregations, yesterday

Going Forward
How do we work together to double new
congregations from 174 to 300 – 500 in the
next five years?
What’s working?
CVD Purpose and Focus – Bigs
To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations
Picture
which engage/equip members
as well as spiritual seekers to
grow in faith and missional discipleship.
Create a Culture of
Research and
Assessment
Uplift
Best Practices,
Centers of
Excellence
and
Emerging Ideas
from Practitioners
Nurture Networks
and Interactive
Connections with
Constituencies and
Partners
CVD’s Relationship with
Center for Progressive Renewal
CVD’s Purpose: To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC
Congregations which engage/equip members as well as spiritual seekers
to grow in faith and missional discipleship.
CVD
IN-SOURCE
New Church Planter
and Renewing Pastor
Assessment 
Coaching & Training
Webinars & Courses
Church Consultants
NewTimes Magazine
Work with
Conference Partners
Funding for CPR
Advertising for CPR
Scholarships for
Events and Courses
CPR
CPR’s Purpose: To renew Progressive Christianity by training new entrepreneurial
leaders, supporting the birth of new liberal/progressive congregations, and by
renewing and strengthening existing progressive churches
CVD Purpose and Focus – BIGs
To increase welcoming, accessible and vital UCC Congregations
Picture
which engage/equip members
as well as spiritual seekers to
grow in faith and missional discipleship.
Vital
Statistics
and
Research
Reports on
Church
Growth
Centers of
Excellence
create
Ongoing
Resources
Center for
Progressive
Renewal
Create a Culture of
Research and
Assessment
Uplift
Best Practices,
Centers of
Excellence
and
Emerging Ideas
from Practitioners
Best
Practices,
Emerging
Ideas
Resources
Assessment
Program
For
Congregations
Nurture Networks
and Interactive
Connections with
Constituencies and
Partners
Interactive
Networks with
Constituencies
Ecumenical
Partners
Church of the
Wider
Fellowship
Create a
Culture of
Research
and
Assessment
First Focus for
CVD Work
RECOMMENDATIONS

Research Assessment Programs for Congregations
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Speak with Disciples of Christ about their New
Beginnings Assessment programs
Speak with Russell Crabtree, Holy Cow Consulting,
about assessment programs
Create assessment program for congregations
making critical decisions about future, whether to
seek renewal, become legacy congregation or do
something radically different. (2013)
Expand assessment program into multiple
platforms and moments for congregational use.
Congregations seeking funding would go through
assessment program
Renewing Congregations
Several Conferences engaged in
renewing and vitality programs
 MA, CT, SCNC involved in DOC New
Beginnings
 ‘From Surviving to Thriving’ program in
New Orleans, LCM, WCM, NO Assoc.
 Center for Progressive Renewal

 reNew
Training
 Consultants
 98 Church Redeveloper Gallup Assessment
Going Forward
What’s working to encourage a culture of
assessment and renewal in congregations?
Continuing Testament, Extravagant Welcome,
Changing Lives